Question:

What an excellent book. The most common advice from the guides in the book it to slow down, look around, and try to figure out what’s going on before you tie on a fly or wade in and start fishing. It’s also amazing how many of them fish dries with 14 ft+ leaders.  Pile cast for sure. Most of them seem to prefer Double Taper lines, which made me feel good. bruce h

Response:

What an excellent book.

I checked that book out from the library about a year and a half ago. Interviewing a variety of guides from many different areas is a great idea. It was interesting reading a book with lots of different viewpoints. Lots of information to pick up. Although I enjoyed the book, I thought that the author could have asked more and better questions. Willi

Response:

Question:

Hello All: I just wanted to let you know that I’ve been lurking thru all the posts for the last couple of months and you guys have some great info.  Thank you!  I’m relatively new to flyfishing and recently took guided "on river" lessons on the Deschutes (handy because I live in Portland).  Wow!  Great experience.  With the guides, it was like a fast forward course in nymphing.  A great start.  I’m now looking to upgrade my gear, and am looking at a Sage 590 DS2 or a St Croix Legend or Imperial.  Also looking to pick up a pair of Orvis Clearwater Breathables (I like the 4 year warranty).  Anyhow, I just wanted to let everyone know I appreciate your posts, and maybe as I get some more experience, I can add to the board.   Scott

Response:

I’ve been lurking thru all the posts for the last couple of months

Congratulations on coming out of the shadows!  You have taken a big step and are now eligible to be Fortenberry fodder! Keep at the learning (it actually never stops).  At least you are into the fun part now.   Good luck and keep us posted. Warren X#-[

Trout Dwellers Unite! Western Conclave Guru For info: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/sp_ROFF_people/wclave/wclave.html

Response:

Anyhow, I just wanted to let everyone know I appreciate your posts, and maybe as I get some more experience, I can add to the board. Scott

Welcome to the group.  It’s always nice to see a new nickname.  BTW, there’s no need to wait until you have experience to start adding to the board.  Most ROFFians aren’t the type to refrain from giving advice just because they don’t know what they’re talking about. — Levi "So long, and thanks for all the fish."

Response:

Welcome Scott from another ROFF newcomer.  I still consider myself a flyfishing beginner and as such I find a lot of the info here invaluable.  I’ve never taken a guided flyfishing trip but I would like to try one soon (maybe Spring 2001). I’m sure you’ve already seen this here a hundred times but….be sure to cast any rod before you buy.  Some shops will let you take them out on the stream and fish them for a few days without having to commit. One thing that has been a great source for me is an annual Flyfishing and Outdoors show held in my state (usually in January).  Every manufacturer you can dream of attends with their full line of gear in tow.  They will gladly rig up any rod/reel combo you like for a test drive on the indoor casting pool.  If they have anything like that near you I highly recommend attending even if it means a days drive and a stay over at a local hotel…it’s that good. Next spring I’ll be in need of new waders too…the Orvis Breathables are appealing.  Keep us posted on the gear front. Regards and tight lines! Natty

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello All: I just wanted to let you know that I’ve been lurking thru all the posts for the last couple of months and you guys have some great info.  Thank you! I’m relatively new to flyfishing and recently took guided "on river" lessons on the Deschutes (handy because I live in Portland).  Wow!  Great experience.  With the guides, it was like a fast forward course in nymphing.  A great start.  I’m now looking to upgrade my gear, and am looking at a Sage 590 DS2 or a St Croix Legend or Imperial.  Also looking to pick up a pair of Orvis Clearwater Breathables (I like the 4 year warranty).  Anyhow, I just wanted to let everyone know I appreciate your posts, and maybe as I get some more experience, I can add to the board. Scott

Response:

Jeezus H. Christ man, are you crazy!  Run far, run fast, before Wolfie and Forty get back. Best of luck and welcome to cyber hell! Opie  **Panhandling for a better tomorrow!**

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello All: I just wanted to let you know that I’ve been lurking thru all the posts for the last couple of months and you guys have some great info.  Thank you!  I’m relatively new to flyfishing and recently took guided "on river" lessons on the Deschutes (handy because I live in Portland).  Wow!  Great experience. With the guides, it was like a fast forward course in nymphing.  A great start. I’m now looking to upgrade my gear, and am looking at a Sage 590 DS2 or a St Croix Legend or Imperial.  Also looking to pick up a pair of Orvis Clearwater Breathables (I like the 4 year warranty).  Anyhow, I just wanted to let everyone know I appreciate your posts, and maybe as I get some more experience, I can add to the board. Scott

Response:

Hello All: I just wanted to let you know that I’ve been lurking thru all the posts for the last couple of months and you guys have some great info.  Thank you!  I’m relatively new to flyfishing and recently took guided "on river" lessons on the Deschutes (handy because I live in Portland).  Wow!  Great experience.  

Lucky bastard. With the guides, it was like a fast forward course in nymphing.  A great start.  I’m now looking to upgrade my gear, and am looking at a Sage 590 DS2 or a St Croix Legend or Imperial.  

Don’t know the St. Croix rods. I’ve got a DS2 5wt, and love it. There is a membership fee, though…was Wolfgang managing that? Vegetables aren’t food. Vegetables are what the food eats.

Response:

Question:

Today, I took Ron for his first Jet Boat Ride in the World’s Best Flats Boat ever built. (Not a humble opening, I agree) As we roared down river to the Blue Bridge (the idea was to blow all that dust out of that great Ford Redline Marine Engine into the atmosphere) at about 26 mph (gps perfect) I slowed down to show Ron some Big Horn Sheep and finally shut the engine down that was purring quietly so everything was in mutual agreement.  The river flowed along like quiet glass, a hawk screeched just once, and one of the baby lambs bayed.  Finally, a red winged black bird sang its short song off a willow as some of its limbs traced the surface of the river. I looked at the river, clean and pure and I explained to Ron how I was going to get some smart mouthed remarks about explaining how pollution free this jet boat, called "The Professional Guide Jet Boat" was in water.  He listen to my words thoughtfully while a trickling sound finally ceased. Ron zipped up and turned with a grin.  "Yep.  I know what you mean.  Too bad you and I aren’t as perfect as this boat." I roared in laughter, started the motor, and slowly applied power. ; ) god!  I love this place. — Mr. G. "Gink Keeps It Up" http://www.gink.com

Question:

Why is anyone bothering to answer questions about catfish BAIT? This is FLYFISHING. We don’t use BAIT.

Response:

I have found that a ball of chicken liver on a medium size treble hook works well in most situations.

BBBbbbbbbut chicken liver flies right off the hook when you’re fly fishing.  Fresh pork skin is the best way for the fly fisherman —  * Center for Computational Biology  * Montana State Bozeman  (406) 994-7061  * http://www.nervana.montana.edu/~sandy */

Response:

Hey…. Martha Stuart of Flyfishing <g <g <g Yuk Yuk Yuk !!! Are you still using the Hot Glue gun to tie your flies (I just came across your article from the Disco era) ?. I (obviously) found it amusing as hell….sorry…<g I also saw your foam nymphs in the Umpqua book…congratulations… — TimW Halfordian Golfer

Response:

We don’t use BAIT.

Gary C. "Lie ? Me ? Never!  No, no, no, the truth is far too much fun !" – Captain Hook

Response:

Why is anyone bothering to answer questions about catfish BAIT? This is FLYFISHING. We don’t use BAIT.

    Some of us not only flyfish, but on occasion I personally enjoy sitting down on the old river bank and do some bait chucking while relaxing on a lawn chair…..     For catties, a ball of Valetta cheese works pretty good.  Nothing however beats the good old nightcrawler though for catching the greatest variety of all fish in local streams, lakes, and rivers…..     I guess I should thank who started this thread, the water is a little unwadeable at my favorite flyfishing stream, maybe I’ll have to get my spinning outfits out today and grab a can of worms and go drown some worms this weekend ) –Randy

Response:

Beginning angler, need advice: What would be best live/artificial Baits to catch Catfish & Bass? What should be the best locations in the streams (no current, fast current, ponds, depths, etc…) where Catfish or Bass are concentrated? Thank you very much indeed.

Response:

Brian, I haven’t done alot of catfishing but I ran across a guy the other day and he said he uses a product called junnies (do a search on the web). he said he bought the stuff off the internet and that a catfish guide told him about it he stated that the guide had the maker come fishing with him and they caught 10 to 1 (maker vs. guide). I do alot of creek fishing and catch alot of bass. I use a lure by rebel called a creek hopper. On a good day I catch and relese about 30 (1/2lb to 1 1/2lds) bass and no telling how many sunfish. you can also check: <A HREF="http:www.tn-outdoors.comtn-outdoors.com</A for other fishing and hunting articles. happy fishing Larry

Response:

I have found that a ball of chicken liver on a medium size treble hook works well in most situations. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Beginning angler, need advice: What would be best live/artificial Baits to catch Catfish & Bass? What should be the best locations in the streams (no current, fast current, ponds, depths, etc…) where Catfish or Bass are concentrated? Thank you very much indeed.

Response:

I have a question:  how do you get the chicken livers to stay on the hook.  I got some fresh chicken livers to use for bait and they were the consistancy of mush.  I would have had a better chance of trying to put grape jelly on the hook.  I have heard you can freeze them but this seems like a messy job.   Any suggestions you can give would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks.   – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have found that a ball of chicken liver on a medium size treble hook works well in most situations. Beginning angler, need advice: What would be best live/artificial Baits to catch Catfish & Bass? What should be the best locations in the streams (no current, fast current, ponds, depths, etc…) where Catfish or Bass are concentrated? Thank you very much indeed.

Response:

Question:

Anybody know of a good spot(s) for flyfishing near Dead Mans’s Flats in Alberta?  I will be going there in August this year. Thanks for your help. Greg

Response:

You can have the whole of the upper Bow river to fish in from Dead Mans Flats as well ..head up to the Limestone quarry on the way to Banff about 30 minutes from Dead Mans……Browns are there to be had as well as rainbows.. take a lunch and enjoy the scenery along the way!!!!! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Anybody know of a good spot(s) for flyfishing near Dead Mans’s Flats in Alberta?  I will be going there in August this year. Thanks for your help. Greg

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Question:

GG whore-news-hounds like Bob Silie and Charlie Myers were taken there.  If GG you want to destroy a river or cathedral like this, simply write about it. I just love your writing style George and I believe you are right about these things most of the time. You know the water I fish from our conversations regarding John and Elna. I have recently stopped giving information in my posts which refer to the river I fish and live on. Hell, I may even stop referring to the entire State. My question, which is posed to you with the greatest respect for your experience, is simply:     1. Am I a selfish, greedy fool for not wanting my rather private party     crashed,          or     2. Have I been a loudmouthed fool for the many past years and posts I have     made inviting everyone I knew, and many I didn’t to come partake in the     pleasure? I have very mixed emotions about this, but I have seen what you are talking about here happen in so many places. Thanks for the shared experiences and cerebral pleasures your posts have brought me George. Dennis Vick … nfx v2.6 [C0000]  http://www.westonia.com/blueview/                      

Response:

Thanks for the images Mr. Gink.  Again, I can only try and imagine.  By the way, that 10 pound cutthroat is swimming around Pyramid lake with a bunch of buddies the same size……JE

Response:

How ravaged was she when 1983 came around?  My first meeting with this fine fair princess was not a solitary affair, but I know the 14 years since since then have been brutal, accelerating with every season.  Now, I can’t stand to see her.  The agonizing destruction brought on by her own, complex beauty hurts too deeply.  And the trout, tell me, give me an idea of just how much I missed.  In 1983 she seemed in good health, but I have no other version of her to compare, except her violated ugly present state.  Then, I thought I was still seeing at least a glimpse of what you two recall.  Now I can only imagine…

Of course, if the Denver Water Board had their way, it would be a great big recreation area now… — Chester Bullock Affordable Web Design and Hosting for Small Businesses http://www.black-diamond.com

Response:

Comes now, thundering towards the lady, from over the horizon – the goat-fuckers of the Platte River. The crown jewel trout stream in the entire state. At least, I knew her when she was still virgin.  Unmolested, unbaited, with wild rainbows as big and as long as your leg.  Challenged, fought, released for another day.  The genes of yesterday, saved for my tomorrows, and for the tomorrows of children then, yet unborn . . . who want to come now and kill you and your children that play in dark, clear, secret pools.  From wheel-chairs, jeeps, skidoo’s, spinners, and campers filled with canning jars!   Let us strip her garments, her flowing gowns and dress away.  Strip her naked to be raped with drive up camp grounds so the goat-fuckers can cast from the seat of an open topped 4-WD, or float on down the center of the river in black, ugly truck inner-tubes, with rat-faced macdoogal, sun freckled rug rats screaming in your ears.  Who wants to hear those peeping Water Oozels anymore, or the cheer of the blue-bird, or the rattling of the great woodpeckers in the pines?  Its going to be more fun listening to those Coleman Electrical generators and some bitch screaming . . . "Didn’t I tell you to come eat these damned hamburgers?!!" Goodby, sweet Princess.  We knew, one day you were going to be murdered. We all must die, someday but some of us, in the quiet reaches of Colorado’s Outdoors, do it better than others.  Your death has begun and it will be a public affair attended by all of Denver this public hanging that has long been . . . overdue? Mr. G.

Response:

Poignant, truthful and sad. Might as well build the Two Forks dam, just to put our mother out of her anguished misery.

You know, I’ve thought the same thing myself. Although I don’t consider the Platte my "mother" (that’s another river in another place far from here) she has certainly been a lover. Almost better to wipe it all away than see it get worse. </chaz

Response:

Go back to 1968-1972 before the road was paved.  When the Denver Water Board had all of it locked up and then after that, the entire Lake above the Dam.  It was in the days when on a weekend only one or two other cars were hidden or parked on the path in.  When I could fish all week and never see another soul.  When you could look down into Anticipation Pool and watch Rainbows chasing another with a face full of green algae filimentagous moss full of caddis worms, trying to steal  it like a pack of puppies chasing the nipples on mother.  When I could sit on one of those huge basalt/sandstone boulders by the hour watching fish up to fifteen and sixteen pounds darting around like minnows!  Spunky, fearless, not knowing what ‘man’ was about and the depth of the pool protected them from predators, so they hid seldom.  It was water that had no brown trout in it then.  Those were introduced by the idiots at the Wig-Wam Club.  But once started, it hurt the fishery beyond imagination.  It was long before the outdoor writers of the Rocky Mountain News, and the Denver Post and the whore-news-hounds like Bob Silie and Charlie Myers were taken there.  If you want to destroy a river or cathedral like this, simply write about it. It was Brad Fort who first took me here.  It was Brad Fort who taught me that here, little was better and where literally, "Matching the Hatch" meant you took viles of samples home and you INVENTED the emerging caddis flies with the short-side duck-quill-tip wings, the fine gold ribbing, the beaver chest and the black mink fur head and the trailing wood-duck flank legs in sizes 18/2X and 16 hooks.  It was when you stood in front of a little shoot of water and forced yourself to believe that there WAS a fish THERE.  You fished with total focus, no indicators, you concentrated just on the leader where it entered the water.  If you can read water you must learn how to read the drift of a leader.  How it moves, in or out, fast or slows with the current, or how it may simply ‘pause’.  You don’t lift with each ‘guess’ but rather I snap the rod tip down towards the water for about two or six inches.  Its enough to move the mico-caddis offerings to touch a trout without having to come out of the water or off the bottom.  Few, if any other fly fishermen knew this trick I guessed at and was taught by this river to do.  And then the day came of all glorious days in my life.  I had been fishing her in secret for many years.  It was the only place in the west I knew of that had such large fish and so many of them.  Over 8,000 per mile. I began to dream of ‘a feat’.  A club I want to start, even to this day. But with the Rainbow, I think I am the only man in the world to do this feat, but I have not been able to do it with all the other species but I am near to completing it with the brown. It goes like this.  A sixteen inch trout caught on a size sixteen hook. This makes me a member of the 16/16 club.  With the Rainbow Species and all of them caught on the Platte River above Deckers.  I am my own member in good standing for completing all the fish and hook sizes.  They are:  The 18/18 Club, the 20/20, 22/22 and 24/24 Club and then a year later the 26/26 club, the 28/28 club and finally a 32 inch Rainbow caught on a size 32 fly slightly over-sized-dressed as a midge. With the Brown Trout, I have them all except the 26/26 Club and most of those are caught at the Miracle Mile and Big Horn River before the Indians opened it up to public fishing. In this world, on this planet, I don’t think there is a man alive that could spend a lifetime and get this far let alone do all four species on all seven hook sizes.  Such a man, would be remembered forever, I think. This idea, which is copyrighted by me is on the back-burner because the patches and certificates could be won by a little boy fishing a fly in an irrigation ditch such as the 16/16 inch Club Master with a Brown Trout.  As the years pass, the patches start to gather and it would not require killing fish to do it.  Just a camera and a witness.  Two witnesses after one gets over the 20 sizes. There is a man named Charlie Kroll who is the son-in-law of Fred Bear of Bear Archery fame.  Mr. Kroll (who used to be my neighbor in Blackhawk Colorado where I invented Gink) has done something nearly as marvelous and as difficult.  Catching a ten pounder or greater trout of each species on a fly.  He has them all except the Cutthroat.  By the time he got to Reno, the big Cutts had already been pan-fried and are gone.  I don’t think there is another 10 pound cutthroat left in the lower 48 but I think he can still find one in South America. That, remains to be seen. Mr. Gink – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – How ravaged was she when 1983 came around?  My first meeting with this fine fair princess was not a solitary affair, but I know the 14 years since since then have been brutal, accelerating with every season.  Now, I can’t stand to see her.  The agonizing destruction brought on by her own, complex beauty hurts too deeply.  And the trout, tell me, give me an idea of just how much I missed.  In 1983 she seemed in good health, but I have no other version of her to compare, except her violated ugly present state.  Then, I thought I was still seeing at least a glimpse of what you two recall.  Now I can only imagine…

Response:

How ravaged was she when 1983 came around?  My first meeting with this fine fair princess was not a solitary affair, but I know the 14 years since since then have been brutal, accelerating with every season.  Now, I can’t stand to see her.  The agonizing destruction brought on by her own, complex beauty hurts too deeply.  And the trout, tell me, give me an idea of just how much I missed.  In 1983 she seemed in good health, but I have no other version of her to compare, except her violated ugly present state.  Then, I thought I was still seeing at least a glimpse of what you two recall.  Now I can only imagine…

Response:

Poignant, truthful and sad.   Might as well build the Two Forks dam, just to put our mother out of her anguished misery. — TimW Halfordian Golfer – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Comes now, thundering towards the lady, from over the horizon – the goat-fuckers of the Platte River. The crown jewel trout stream in the entire state. At least, I knew her when she was still virgin.  Unmolested, unbaited, with wild rainbows as big and as long as your leg.  Challenged, fought, released for another day.  The genes of yesterday, saved for my tomorrows, and for the tomorrows of children then, yet unborn . . . who want to come now and kill you and your children that play in dark, clear, secret pools.  From wheel-chairs, jeeps, skidoo’s, spinners, and campers filled with canning jars!   Let us strip her garments, her flowing gowns and dress away.  Strip her naked to be raped with drive up camp grounds so the goat-fuckers can cast from the seat of an open topped 4-WD, or float on down the center of the river in black, ugly truck inner-tubes, with rat-faced macdoogal, sun freckled rug rats screaming in your ears.  Who wants to hear those peeping Water Oozels anymore, or the cheer of the blue-bird, or the rattling of the great woodpeckers in the pines?  Its going to be more fun listening to those Coleman Electrical generators and some bitch screaming . . . "Didn’t I tell you to come eat these damned hamburgers?!!" Goodby, sweet Princess.  We knew, one day you were going to be murdered. We all must die, someday but some of us, in the quiet reaches of Colorado’s Outdoors, do it better than others.  Your death has begun and it will be a public affair attended by all of Denver this public hanging that has long been . . . overdue? Mr. G.

Response:

  Comes now, thundering towards the lady, from over the horizon – the   goat-fuckers of the Platte River. The crown jewel trout stream in   the   entire state.   At least, I knew her when she was still virgin.  Unmolested,   unbaited,   with wild rainbows as big and as long as your leg.  Challenged,   fought,   released for another day.  The genes of yesterday, saved for my   tomorrows, and for the tomorrows of children then, yet unborn . . .   who   want to come now and kill you and your children that play in dark,   clear, secret pools.  From wheel-chairs, jeeps, skidoo’s, spinners,   and   campers filled with canning jars!   Let us strip her garments, her   flowing gowns and dress away.  Strip her naked to be raped with   drive up   camp grounds so the goat-fuckers can cast from the seat of an open   topped 4-WD, or float on down the center of the river in black, ugly   truck inner-tubes, with rat-faced macdoogal, sun freckled rug rats   screaming in your ears.  Who wants to hear those peeping Water   Oozels   anymore, or the cheer of the blue-bird, or the rattling of the great   woodpeckers in the pines?  Its going to be more fun listening to   those   Coleman Electrical generators and some bitch screaming . . . "Didn’t   I   tell you to come eat these damned hamburgers?!!"   Goodby, sweet Princess.  We knew, one day you were going to be   murdered.   We all must die, someday but some of us, in the quiet reaches of   Colorado’s Outdoors, do it better than others.  Your death has begun   and   it will be a public affair attended by all of Denver this public   hanging   that has long been . . . overdue?   Mr. G.  Dear Mr. Gehrke: I was lucky enough, one time many years ago to meet  you as I had watched you fishing above the Wigwam Club long before the paved roads were put in.  When that long grade down into the Platte Canyon could literally kill you.  When it was still wilderness.  I watched you fish the big, deep pools from a huge boulder high above and you were below . . . and I

Question:

(Curtis Quist) writes: I am looking at moving to the Portland area.  I am tired of the mid-west and the lack of ff for trout in my area.  How much fishing is available within 60 minutes of Portland.  On a scale of 1-10, how good is the fishing in this area. Thanks in advance, Curtis

You could flyfish everyday of the year with a good expectation of catching fish.  What more could a mortal want?

Response:

I am looking at moving to the Portland area.  I am tired of the mid-west and the lack of ff for trout in my area.  How much fishing is available within 60 minutes of Portland.  On a scale of 1-10, how good is the fishing in this area. Thanks in advance, Curtis

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – (Curtis Quist) writes: I am looking at moving to the Portland area.  I am tired of the mid-west and the lack of ff for trout in my area.  How much fishing is available within 60 minutes of Portland.  On a scale of 1-10, how good is the fishing in this area. Thanks in advance, Curtis You could flyfish everyday of the year with a good expectation of catching fish.  What more could a mortal want?

Let’s be clearer.  You can flyfish for trout, you can fly fish for steelhead, you can fly fish for salmon, you can flyfish for small mouth and large mouth bass, a few bluegills, and surf fish.  Driving a little further, you can get stripers, the Deschutes ( a fair to middling river), the various high Oregon lakes.   I lived in Portland a few years back, and was so snooty, I wouldn’t drive more than forty five minutes.  Fished 150 days one of those years.  Caught a few.  Had a lot of fun.  That was before the kids came along… Seattle is OK, too.

Response:

Question:

Sorry, got always an error message from the server, thats why I tried to send it several times!                          Thomas

Response:

: <snip  I had a 7′ 3 wgt. T&T Paralite that : was the most beautiful rod I ever owned…. But it was useless… You : couldn’t shoot a #14 humpy with it… I couldn’t disagree more.  The paralite (my favorite rod) has a different action than most are used to, but it is perfectly capable of handling any sized dry (for trout, that is) and quite a few wieghted nymphs.  I use it often, even in slightly windy conditions.  It won’t, however, deliver larger flies into a stiff breeze- but then again, that’s not really what it was designed for.  And you’re absolutely correct about the beauty of the rod… best regards, Hans — "The worst monotonous drone coming from a lectern or the most eye-splitting textbook written in turgid English is nothing in comparison to the psychological Sahara that starts right in your bedroom and spurns the horizon."         -Joseph Brodsky, from "In praise of Boredom"          delivered as a commencement address at Dartmouth College. Hans T.H. Beernink, Department of Biochemistry, University of Vermont

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am interested in purchasing a new rod for fishing very tight, small, brushy streams with obstructions on sides and overhead.  I already own 3 rods ranging from 8′-9′ but these are all too long and heavy. I would like to buy a rod between a 2 and 4 weight in a 6-1/2′ to 7-1/2′ length.  After having broken the tip twice on my Sage LL rod, a definite must for this rod is a lifetime warranty or 25 year warranty that Orvis offers. I have looked at the Reddington 4wt 7-1/2′ which has a lifetime warranty but I know 20 years from now Orvis will still be here and they may not.  After reviewing all of the Orvis rods in these sizes it appears that the HLS One Ounce which is a 4wt. 7′ one ounce rod would be best although I am not sure I will like the cork-and-ring reel seat. Has anyone had any experience with the HLS One Ounce?  Or should I consider the Orvis Superfine 2wt. 6′6" One Ounce, 3wt 7′6" Tippet, or the 4wt 7′6" Brook Trout?  Any other rod lines I should look at that have a 25 year or more warranty?  Will I create much more water disturbance by going from a 2-3 weight line to a 4 weight where I will be approaching fish that are very wary?  Is there much difference in throwing a 3wt compared to a 4wt line into the wind on under 20-30′ casts? Thanks for your help in making the best decision possible.

I wouldn’t be afraid of the cork-and-ring reel seat, I have one on my Patridge rod and I have never had problems with it, it’s simpl= y more lightweigth.  To the Orvis rods: Personally i wouldn’t consider the 2weight, the rod is to swippy and has no backbone to cast a weighted nymph or=  cast in windy conds. The 3weight made from HLS graphite is nearly as good as the SAGE LL rod. Anyway: you don’t really feel a diffe= rence between a #3 and a #4 rod, except that the 3weight cast a little bit worse with more wind resistant or heavier flies or in win= dy conditions. I use a short 5weight (!) for nearly all my fishing and I don’t have the feeling to spook trout by serving a 5weight = line more than with the 3weight. The difference is that with that rod it is possible to cast even a very heavy weighted stonefly nym= ph on a heavy leader with lots of split shot without trouble, in contrast to a 3weight. You don’t have to worry about water disturba= nce, if you do, learn to serve the fly better, as I am trying (it works! I learned to serve a fly with a 5weight with nearly as litt= le disturbance as with a #3, it was worth it). Only in very shallow (about 1ft) and very slow and clear water I change to the 3weigh= t, where you don’t need heavy weigthed flys or leaders and the flies are tiny. Anyway: I don’t know how you wade, but most of the flyfishers I spoke to and which were worried about spooking a trout with a #5 lin= e spook the trout before they start to fish (with their 2 or 3weight rod) by incareful wading (so there was no problem to spook the = trout with a heavier line, they spooked them already! Most of these guys make more waterhiking and trout-spooking than flyfishing in= stead standing at one pool and fishing it carefully.). I don’t say, that you do it that way, but cosider the disadvantages of a too = light rod. Something can be evened out by a different (more careful) presentation and approach to a fish! A last point to consider: You can fight a fish faster with a rod with more backbone, which means that you increase the survival rate=  of a released trout (Don’t go under a 3weight! With kindest regards: The Trout). Hope that helps                     tight lines                                Thomas

Response:

I am going to offer a dissenting opinion to most of the feedback you will likely get on your question.  I would not hit a dead dog in the butt with anything lighter that a 4 wgt. for small, tight stream work.  I believe a 5 wgt to be even better.  I have seen very few light (less than 4 wgt….) rods that are capable of punching a fly through brush and under a  hemlock bough that is only 18" off the water.  I had a 7′ 3 wgt. T&T Paralite that was the most beautiful rod I ever owned…. But it was useless… You couldn’t shoot a #14 humpy with it… I fish an Orvis Small Stream Special (7′ 5wgt) for this work… But I have also used the Orvis Rocky Mtn. Flea (6 1/2′ #4) and it is OK.  I like the 5 wgt better.  Eithr of these would be a good choice in my view…    

Response:

I am interested in purchasing a new rod for fishing very tight, small, brushy streams with obstructions on sides and overhead.  I already own 3 rods ranging from 8′-9′ but these are all too long and heavy. I would like to buy a rod between a 2 and 4 weight in a 6-1/2′ to 7-1/2′ length.  After having broken the tip twice on my Sage LL rod, a definite must for this rod is a lifetime warranty or 25 year warranty that Orvis offers. I have looked at the Reddington 4wt 7-1/2′ which has a lifetime warranty but I know 20 years from now Orvis will still be here and they may not.  After reviewing all of the Orvis rods in these sizes it appears that the HLS One Ounce which is a 4wt. 7′ one ounce rod would be best although I am not sure I will like the cork-and-ring reel seat. Has anyone had any experience with the HLS One Ounce?  Or should I consider the Orvis Superfine 2wt. 6′6" One Ounce, 3wt 7′6" Tippet, or the 4wt 7′6" Brook Trout?  Any other rod lines I should look at that have a 25 year or more warranty?  Will I create much more water disturbance by going from a 2-3 weight line to a 4 weight where I will be approaching fish that are very wary?  Is there much difference in throwing a 3wt compared to a 4wt line into the wind on under 20-30′ casts? Thanks for your help in making the best decision possible.

Response:

Question:

Jensen) writes: Looking for foul weather gear

I would not look too hard for a bargin when looking for raingear, you will regret it later.  Get yourself some Grundens, Guy Cottons, or as a last resort some Helly Hansons(although Hellys have really gone down hill lately).  I work in the seafood industry in Alaska, and I have found that Grundens makes the best raingear out there.  And you can get it in day glow colors if you want to.  Look at comercial fishing outlets for them.

Response:

: I would not look too hard for a bargin when looking for raingear, you will : regret it later.  Get yourself some Grundens, Guy Cottons, or as a last : resort some Helly Hansons(although Hellys have really gone down hill : lately).  I work in the seafood industry in Alaska, and I have found that : Grundens makes the best raingear out there.  And you can get it in day : glow colors if you want to.  Look at comercial fishing outlets for them. faulies, not me. But I would like to check out a commercial supplier in LA or OC, just to see what’s there.  Anyone know where to find one?

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-    I’m looking for foul weather gear but don’t want to pay the high prices – that the local stores charge.  Is there a good mail order place for this – stuff? I recently found a Helly Hansen mfg’s outlet store near Kenosha, Wisconsin.  I think they were just trying to sell yuppie sweaters and similar trendy stuff and they had their real foul weather gear on the shelf just to impress people. Never the less, they did have everything from their low end, $120 suits, to their high end, $900 suits.  They also had a hand written tag that explained in detail why each item was a mfg defect.  If I didn’t already have a suit I would have been very tempted to buy a $270 suit for $180 because they got their name embrodered on the wrong corner of the pocket. G. Jackson

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        I postedthis elsewhere so I’ll post it here.  Don’t get sucked in by all that expensive sailing oriented shit.  Read on.      On my first ocean cruise in 1981, I bought some "Offshore" foul weather gear at R.E.I. in Seattle.  Total piece of shit. After some pretty rough usage (we lost a rudder) and 31 days at sea, the seams leaked.  I took them back to R.E.I.  They said that they wern’t meant for the kind of sailing I do, but for the "weekend" sailor." I said "Well why the fuck! do you call it "Offshore"? To make a long story short, they wouldn’t refund my money and it just confirmed my opinion of R.E.I. as a fashion house for frustrated yuuppies. Growing up in Seattle, I have resisted the R.E.I Clone look mightily although I have to admit, Pile Jackets are great for me as I’m allergic to wool.      Where is this leading to?      Buy Helly Hansen fisherman foul weather gear. No seams, no fly, no pockets, NO LEAK!!!!  I’ve worn mine for 10 years fishing in Alaska and California and on many trans ocean sails.  Still wearing them.  My mother is borrowing them for a river rafting trip this month.  About $80 last time I bought (I have two pair) — — Turn off ascii capture on the personal computer 4;1H Press the <Return Key to return to mail … —

Response:

     On my first ocean cruise in 1981, I bought some "Offshore" foul weather gear at R.E.I. in Seattle.  Total piece of shit. After some pretty rough usage (we lost a rudder) and 31 days at sea, the seams leaked.  I took them back to R.E.I.  They said that they wern’t meant for the kind of sailing I do, but for the "weekend" sailor."I said "Well why the fuck! do you call it "Offshore"? To make a long story short, they wouldn’t refund my money and it just confirmed my opinion of R.E.I. as a fashion house for frustrated yuuppies. Growing up in Seattle, I have resisted the R.E.I Clone look mightily although I have to admit, Pile Jackets are great for me as I’m allergic to wool.      Where is this leading to?      Buy HELLY HANSEN fisherman foul weather gear. No seams, no fly, no pockets, NO LEAK!!!! And they are tough as steel and easy to patch. I’ve worn mine for 10 years fishing in Alaska and California and on many trans ocean sails.  Still  wearing them.  My mother is borrowing them for a river rafting  trip this month.  About $80 last time I bought (I have two pair) —

Response:

     I’m looking for foul weather gear but don’t want to pay the high prices that the local stores charge.  Is there a good mail order place for this stuff?                                      we suck!"

Response:

:      I’m looking for foul weather gear but don’t want to pay the high prices : that the local stores charge.  Is there a good mail order place for this : stuff? I wouldn’t do it.  I would rather have something that fits.  I ended up with a "Grotto" jacket from Boat/US and Explorer trousers from West Marine because each fit properly.  (I can hear them fighting in the closet.) It’s kind of hit and miss because everything is S/M/L/XL. My biggest disapointment was the lack of rad colors. And my BIG IDEA, now placed in the public domain, is glow-in-the-dark zippers – so you can get them on at 3 am.

Response:

Question:

I just would like to see names of rivers, lakes included in some of this mail.  … I just am tired of this attitude of hiding even the name of the place.  Yes, you are right in that you can get pretty close from the description, but then why not just tell the name outright.

Names of rivers, dates, and specific "how, when and where" information is just what the magazine editors want too. Thank god they don’t get it, most of the time. The late Norman Strung, of Field and Stream, or Outdoor Life…I’m not sure which one… made a living out of giving secrets away. He was a Bozeman Montana area writer who had a lot of friends. There were a lot of people who didn’t like him very much too. Especially those who still had secrets they wanted to keep….fishing holes they didn’t want overrun. Secrets are for sharing with close friends. Not for broadcast news to the whole universe. —

Response:

I just would like to see names of rivers, lakes included in some of this mail.  … I just am tired of this attitude of hiding even the name of the place.  Yes, you are right in that you can get pretty close from the description, but then why not just tell the name outright.   Very few will make this arduous journey.

As a general rule, the smaller or more fragile a fishery is, the more reluctant I am to draw large-scale attention to it.  There are several reasons for my attitude: 1. Probably everyone has that one special place, a slice of heaven they    consider their own, that they would prefer keep secret.  If someone    works hard to discover such a place, and takes a personal interest in    its long term health, more power to them; and the right to keep it    a secret should be their’s – they deserve it. 2. Small fisheries, especially small creeks and small lakes (~15 acres)    can be severely impacted by sudden intense fishing pressure.  I’m    not concerned about telling everyone that the Siletz River has great    searun cutthroat and steelhead fishing.  It’s so damn big, it takes    years to figure out a few good holes.  Small waters on the other hand    are a different story.    I’ll add that "arduous" journeys or remote places do *not* guarantee    protection.  Heck, those are the places I’m attracted to, and    everyone else I know. 3. People who draw large-scale attention to secret fishing spots they’re    told about tend to be frowned upon.  If Wayne for example was told    about the lake in question by someone else, it’s wrong and certainly    awkard for Wayne to be expected to tell all for our benefit. 4. There’s more to fishing than being told which water to hit, which    fly to use, which hole to cast in, etc.   Half the fun should be    figuring it out for yourself. Thomas Gilg

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I just would like to see names of rivers, lakes included in some of this mail.  … I just am tired of this attitude of hiding even the name of the place.  Yes, you are right in that you can get pretty close from the description, but then why not just tell the name outright.   Names of rivers, dates, and specific "how, when and where" information is just what the magazine editors want too. Thank god they don’t get it, most of the time. The late Norman Strung, of Field and Stream, or Outdoor Life…I’m not sure which one… made a living out of giving secrets away. He was a Bozeman Montana area writer who had a lot of friends. There were a lot of people who didn’t like him very much too. Especially those who still had secrets they wanted to keep….fishing holes they didn’t want overrun. Secrets are for sharing with close friends. Not for broadcast news to the whole universe. —

I think it’s upto the person who knows to tell if he wants to or not. I know I spend a fair bit of time spotting  pools/areas to fish and there are others who do the same. I wouldn’t want the place I’m fishing to be on some fishing show or the local newspaper because it brings out alot of people who wouldn`t come otherwise! I’m still pissed off at that Canadian Sportsfishing show where the two idiots (Henry and Italo) named the creek on a steelhead show. They caught fish after fish but didn’t tell anyone that they were fishing a private land area that the general public has no access to and they fished it the one year where they was a huge late run. There were so many people at the public areas with very few fish. It has taken about 4 years for the crowd to go away because they didn’t catch anything at all. If I ever see them out fishing one day, I’m going to give them a piece of my mind!!!!

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